Excavating-machine.



W. F. & C. O. JACOBS.

EXGAVATING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 25, 1908. 937,373. Patented Oct. 119, 1909.

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W. F. 6: 0. G. JACOBS.

'EXGAVATING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED snr'r. 25, 190B.

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EXGAVATING 11IAGHINE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT.25,1908.

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BXGAVATING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 25, 190B.

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WILLIAM F. JACOBS AND CHARLES C. JACOBS, OF OTTAWA, ILLINOIS.

EXCAVATING-LIACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed September 25, 1908.

Patented Got. 19, 1909.

Serial in). 454,713.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, TVILLIAM F. JACOBS and Crnxnrns C. Jacons, citizens of the United-States, and residents of Ottavm in the county of Lasalle and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Excavating-Machines; and we do hereby declare that the following is a full clea I and exact description thereof reference being had to the accompanying drawings. and to the numerals of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to excavating apparatus and more particularly to that class of excavating devices wherein is employed an excavating .oop adapted to travel backward and forward upon a track or beam and has for its object to provide a simple and eiiicient means for moving the loaded scoop to position for the discharge of the excavated earth and effecting the discharge of the same.

The invention consists in the matters hereinafter set forth and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

in the drawings :Figure l is a view in side elevation of an excavating apparatus embodying our invention in position for an excavating cut. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the device in the position shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a view in side elevation showing the device in position for discharging the excavated material from the scoop. Fig. i is a detail view of the scoop with parts broken away and of the outer end of the beam or track upon which the scoop travels. Fig. is a transverse cross-section taken upon line of Fig. Fig. i) is an end view of the device showing the use of the same in excavating ditch or trench.

As shown in the said drawings, 5 designates a platform or base upon which is mounted the power plant of the excavating device. The said platform or base 5 is secured to a platform 6 which is carried by a turntable 7 riding upon a circular track 8, the said track being mounted upon a truck 9 which is adapted to travel upon a track adjacent to the excavation. In Figs. 1, 2 and 3 the apparatus is shown as applied for excavating a canal or wide cut, and in said figures the truck 9 is shown as arranged to travel on a track 10 extending along one side of the excavation and the apparatus is arranged to travel along said track in a direction parallel with the line of the excavation. In Fig. 6 the apparatus is arranged to travel both lengthwise and transversely with reference to the line of a ditch or trench, as will be hereinafter described. The turn-table carrying the power apparatus is rotated by means of a cable 11 which passes around the track 8 upon which the said turntable travels and is guided upward by means of pulleys 12, 12 and the two ends thereof are wound in opposite directions around a drum 13 carried upon the base 5 and adapted to be driven by a motor or engine 14. The excavating scoop and its track or beam are operated by means of drums 15 and 16 carried upon the base 5 and adapted to be driven by the said motor or engine 1%.

Pivotally connected with one end of the platform 6 and extending outwardly therefrom is a vertically swinging beam 20 which is curved upwardly at its outer or rising and falling end. The said beam is shown as made of trussed construction consisting of upper and lower rails and 26 each of which is formed by means of two angle irons, the two rails being rigidly connected by means of cross lacings 27, 27 and by means of web plates 28 and 29 interposed between rails near the ends thereof and a web plate 30 interposed between the said rails between the ends thereof. Mounted upon the said beam or track 20 and adapted to travel backward and forward thereon is a carriage 34: carrying a scoop 36. The said carriage 34- consists of two vertically arranged, parallel side members or plates 36, 36 between which are mounted an upper set of rollers 37, 37 adapted to travel upon the upper rail 25 of the beam 20. and a lower set of rollers 38. 38 adapted to bear upwardly against the lower rail 26 of the said beam 20; the said upper rollers 37. 37 being spaced apart a less distance than the lower rollers 38. 38 to permit the said carriage to travel freely over the curved portion of the track and assume positions corresponding with the curvature of the said track without locking or binding. The said scoop is made of sheet metal and is open at its forward end and closed at its top and rear end. The top and bottom walls 40 and ll are fiat. and the side walls 42. 42 thereof are upright and joined to the bottom wall wall 40.

41 by oblique or inwardly inclined parts as, &3. The forward and rear margins of the side and bottom walls are supported and reinforced by means of two ribs a l and 45 to which a piece of sheet metal, which is bent to form the side and bottom walls, is secured; the rib 44: which is at the advance edge of the scoop being sharpened (Fig. 1) to provide a cutting edge for the said scoop. The forward end of the scoop is always open and the excavated material is discharged therefrom by gravity, as will hereinafter appear. The said scoop and the scoop supporting carriage are rigidly secured together by means of bolts or rivets through the top wall of the scoop and the side members or plates 36, 36 of the carriage, which latter are provided with flanges for attaching the same to the top (Fig.

For supporting and giving movement to the beam and scoop devices are provided as follows: Pivotally supported upon the platform 6 so as to swing vertically on an axis concentric with the pivot of the beam 20, is a boom which extends upward and outwardly from the platform above said beam 20 and is located in the same vertical plane therewith. As shown, said beam 20 and boom 50 are adapted to swing upon a common pivot rod 51 connecting the same with the platform. Said boom 50 is shown (Figs. 2 and 6) as consisting of two laterally separated, longitudinal members 52. 52

w which converge toward each other at the outer end of the boom and the inner ends of which are engaged with the pivot rod 51; said members 52, 52 being rigidly joined by suitable transverse connecting members. For adjustably supporting the outer end of said boom 50 devices are provided as follows: Rigidly secured to the forward end of the platform 6 and extending upwardly therefrom are two frame members 53, 53 which are inclined inwardly or toward each other and are joined at their upper ends. Said frame members 53, 53 are braced by two oblique frame members 54L, 5 which are secured to the rear end of the platform 6, one at either side thereof, and which extend obliquely upward and forward and are secured at their upper ends to the frame members 53, 53 by means of a gusset plate 55. At the upper end of the frame formed by the frame members 53 and 54 is located a pulley 56, shown as mounted in a stirrup 57, pivotally connected withthe gusset plate 55. A pulley 58 is connected by links 59 with the outer end of the boom 50. A cable 60 is con nected with the upper ends of the frame members 53, 53 by the stirrup 57 and, after passing around the pulleys 56 and 58, is wound upon a hand-winch 61 mounted upon one of the frame members 53. Said boom 50 will not be raised or lowered in the usual operation of the apparatus, but its outer end may be elevated or depressed by the turning of the winch 61, as required in adjusting the apparatus for any special piece of work, or from time to time as the excavation proceeds. Mounted upon the outer end of the boom 50 are two pulley wheels 62, 62 preferably arranged side by side upon a pivot bolt 63, which is inserted through the two members 52, 52 of the boom 50 (Fig. 2). Connected with the carriage 36 by means of a stirrup 64 is a pulley wheel 65. A cable 66 is secured to the outer end of the beam 20 and passes upwardly and around one of the pulley wheels 62 on the boom 50, then downwardly around the pulley on the scoop, then upwardly around the other pulley 62 on the outer end of the boom, and then inwardly to the drum 16, on which said cable is wound. The cable 66, thus arranged, serves both to lift and lower the beam 20 and to give outward movement to the scoop 35 on said beam, as will be hereinafter explained. For drawing said scoop inwardly along said beam 20 in making the excavating cuts or filling the scoop, a cable 67 is secured to the scoop carriage 36 by means of a stirrup 68, said cable being trained under a guide pulley 69 on the platform 6 and around the drum 15 on said platform. The upward curvature of the outer end of said beam 20 is such that, when the scoop has been filled by drawing it inwardly along said beam, the outer end of the beam then elevated and the scoop moved outwardly upon the beam to a point near the outer end thereof, the scoop will be tipped or tilted and its open end directed downwardly to such extent as to permit the material with in the scoop to freely fall therefrom by gravity.

Fig. 1 of the accompanying drawings shows the parts of the apparatus in position for operation of the scoop in making an excavating cut or scraping material from the bottom of an excavation; the beam 20 at this time being held in its lowered or depressed position. The said scoop being at the outer end of the beam, the excavating cut is made bv drawing said scoop inwardly along the beam, through the winding in of the cable 67. After the scoop has been filled the outer end of the boom is raised or lifted by the winding in of the cable 66. The

position of the beam when lifted is shown in Fig. 3. By the turning of the platform 6, the beam is swung around to bringits outer end over the spoil-bank or place of deposit and. after or during the lifting and swinging of the boom, the scoop is drawn outwardly until it reaches the upwardly curved outer end of the boom and takes the position shown in said Fig. 3, when the material in the scoop is discharged. The beam 20 is made straight at its inner portion and near its outer end is curved upwardly in a curve of short radius so that the scoop on reaching said outer end of the beam will be abruptly swung into its inclined or discharging position, as shown in Fig. 8. In its outer portion, along which the scoop usually travels in making the excavating cuts, the beam is upwardly curved from the outer end of its straight portion to the said curved part of short radius with a curve of much longer radius. The curvature of the outer part of the beam 20 is such that when the beam is depr ed, or in position for the operation of the scoop in excavating or scraping, its said curved portion will be approximately concentric with the pulley wheels (32, 62 on the outer end of the boom 50, over which passes the cable 66, by which the beam 20 and the scoop are sustained and raised and lowered. As a result of this construction and arrangement, when the scoop is drawn in \vardly along the outer part of the beam by the cable 6?, said scoop will move or swing in an arc concentric with said pulley wheels (32. and the accompanying swinging movement of the pulley 65, attached :to said scoop, will have no effect upon the cable (36, so that the drum 16 may be held from rotation during the excavating or scraping movement of the scoop. and the beam 20 will be neither raised nor lowered at such time. If, however, it becomes necessary to draw the scoop inwardly along the straight inner portion of the beam, in order to remove material from the sloping side of the excavation adjacent to the supporting track 10, said drum it) may be allowed to turn to an extent required to permit the movement of the pulley (35 away from the pulley wheels 62, 62 as the scoop moves inwardly along said inner straight portion oi the beam, without letting out or slacking the said cable 66 to an extent permitting any downward movement of the outer end ot the beam. After the scoop has been lilled. the drum lt is rotated to wind in the cable ()6 and to thereby lift the outer end of the beam and draw the scoop out wardly thereon: the drum 15 being released to permit the cable 67 to run out as the scoop moves outwardly on the beam. At the beginning of the winding movement of the drum 16. it the scoop is adjacent to the inner end of the curved portion of the beam, the winding in of the cable 66 will have no etiect to move the scoop outwardly on the beam, because of the concentric relation of the curved part of the beam to the pulley wheels 6:, 62. and the first ettect will be to lift the outer end of the beam. The upward moverent of the beam will continue without any movement of the scoop until the beam has been lifted to a considerable extent, when the line of dratt on the scoop, (or direction of the pull exerted on the scoop by the cable (56 will become oblique with respect to any radial line of the curved portion of the beam,

(the outer end of the said curved portion coming nearer to the pulleys ($2, 62 than its inner end as the beam rises), with the result that the scoop will move or be drawn outwardly along said curved portion and finally carried to the abruptly curved outer end of the beam, where the discharge of the contents of the scoop takes place. If the scoop has been drawn inwardly upon the straight inner portion of the beam, the first ell'ect ot the winding in oi the cable 26 will be to carry the scoop outwardly along the beam until the scoop reaches the curved portion thereof, after which the beam will be lifted, as hereinbefore described, until. it assumes such upward inclination that the scoop will be carried outwardly along said curved portion.

The advantage of the particular construction described in the form of the beam and the arrangement of the hoisting cable and pulleys, is that the shifting of the beam and the moving or the scoop outwardly thereon are accomplished by a single cable and wind ing drum, so that both the structure of the apparatus and the operation of the same are greatly simplified.

hen the apparatus is arranged as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the beam will, in the cut ting or scraping movement of the scoop. be swung into position at right angles with the side of the excavation, so that the excavating cuts will be in a direction transwrse to the line of the excavation and from the central portion thereof toward its margin along which the track 10 extends; the apparatus being moved along said track 10 the transverse excavating cuts are succwsively made. When the scoop has been till d by the inward movement titer-cot on the beam the platform of the apparatus will be swung around to carry the outer end of the beam and the scoop outside of the line of excavation or over the spoil-bani: for the discharge of the excavated material thereon.

In case the apparatus be used for making a narrow excavation or ditch, in which it is desirable that the scoop in making its exeavating cuts be moved lengthwise of the excavation, the apparatus may be set up as shown in F 6. In this instance tract: rails 70, 70 extend along the excavation at opposite sides thereof and a platform provided with tracks extending transversely of the excavation, and at its ends with wheels T1. 71, rests and travels upon the rails 70, 70. The truck 9 carrying the excavating apparatus may be moved on the tracks of the plat'l orm 7:2, transversely of the excavation, as required for excavating the entire width thereof.

A scoop provided with oblique lateral walls L3, 43, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, has important advantages in cases where the excavating cut is to be made in a direction lengthwise of the ditch or trench to be excavated, for the reason that said inclined walls may be made to correspend in inclination with the desired inclination of the sides of the excavation, and the latter can be finished by the operation of the scoop without the use of hand labor for that purpose.

An important part of our invention is em braced in the main features of construction described, wherein the vertically and laterally swinging beam is upwardly curved at its outer end and the scoop which travels thereon is open at its inner end, so that the discharge of the material from the scoop is effected by running the scoop to and upon the outer curved end of the beam, thereby effecting automatically the discharge of the material from the scoop when the beam is lifted and swung laterally to the point at which it is desired to deposit the excavated material.

In carrying our invention into practice the apparatus illustrated in the accompanying drawings may be variously modified in various details of construction, and we do not, therefore, desire to be limited to such details except so far as the same may be set forth in the appended claims.

The invention also includes other features illustrated and described, as pointed out in the appended claims.

\Ve claim as our invention 1. In an excavating machine, the combination of abeam having vertical and lateral swinging movement and which is upwardly curved at its outer end, an excavating scoop having movement endwise on the beam, said scoop being open at its end adjacent to the inner end of the beam, means for actuating said scoop adapted to carry the same inwardly on the beam in making its scraping or excavating cut and to carry said scoop outwardly on said beam to effect the discharge of the contents of the scoop, said scoop in its outward movement being carried into engagement with the upwardly curved outer end of said beam when the latter is in its elevated position to tip the scoop into a position with its open end downwardly and thereby effect the discharge of the contents of the scoop.

2. In an excavating machine, the combination with a vertically swinging beam having upwardly and downwardly facing tracks and which is upwardly curved at its outer end, of a scoop provided with upper and lower rollers adapted to engage the said tracks, said scoop being open at its end adjacent to the inner end of the beam, means for raising and lowering the outer end of the beam, and means for moving said scoop inwardly along the beam in making its scraping or excavating cut and for moving said scoop outwardly upon said beam adapted to carry the same into engagement with wardly curved at its outer end, and a scoop movable on the beam endwise thereof, said scoop being open at its end adjacent to the inner end of the beam and means for actuating said scoop adapted to carry the same inwardly along the beam in making its scraping 0r excavating out and outwardly on the beam into engagement with the upwardly curved end portion thereof when the beam is in its elevated position to tilt the scoop and effect the discharge of the contents thereof. 1

I. In an excavating machine, the combination of a beam having vertical swinging movement from a downwardly to an upwardly inclined position and also lateral swinging movement, said beam being upwardly curved at its outer end and having upwardly and downwardly facing tracks and a scoop provided with rollers which engage said tracks and hold said scoop in parallel relation to the beam, said scoop being open at its end adjacent to the inner end of the beam, and means for actuating said scoop adapted to move the same inwardly along the beam for making its scraping or excavating cut and for moving said scoop outwardly on the beam into engagement with the upwardly curved outer end thereof when the beam is in its elevated position to tilt the scoop and effect the discharge of the contents thereof.

5. In an excavating machine, the combination with a rotative platform, of a beam pivoted at its inner end to the platform and adapted for vertical swinging movement from a downwardly to an upwardly inclined position, means on the platform for supporting and giving vertical movement to the said beam, a scoop which is movable endwise on the beam and is open at its end adjacent to the inner end of the beam, and

means for actuating said scoop adapted to move the same inwardly along the beam when making its scraping or excavating cut and to move said' scoop outwardly on the beam into engagement with the upwardly curved end thereof when the beam is in its elevated position to tilt said scoop and effect the discharge of the contents thereof.

6. In an excavating machine, the combination with a rotative platform, of a beam pivoted at its inner end to the said platform, said beam being curved upwardly at its outer end and having upwardly and downwardly facing tracks, a scoop which is open at its end nearest the inner end of the beam and is provided with rollers adapted to travel upon the said tracks, and actuating means connected with the said beam and scoop and adapted to lift the beam and to carry said scoop outwardly on the beam and into engagement with the upwardly cuwed outer end. thereof when the beam reaches its elevated position.

T. in an excavating machine, the combination with a rotative platform, of a vertically swi ging beam which is upwardly curved at its outer end and is hinged at its inner end to the said platform, an excavating scoop which is open at its end adjacent to the inner end of the beam and is adapted to travel. upon the said beam, a boom on the pla form for siuiporting said beam, a cable adapted to draw the scoop inwardly on the beam to make an excavating cut, a second cable adapted to elevate the outer end of the said beam and move the scoop to the outer end thereof, and windii'ig drums on the platform for said cables.

8. in an excavating machine, the combination of a vertically swinging beam which is upwardly curved at its outer end, a scoop movable endwise on the beam and open at its end adjacent to the inner end of the beam, supporting pulleys above the beam, a pulley connected with the scoop, a cable attached to the outer end of the beam and passing over said pulleys, and means for drawing the scoop inwardlv on said beam, said beam being curved between its ends on a circular curve substantially concentric with said supporting pulle v's when the beam is in its depressed position.

9. In an excavating machine, the combination with a rotative plat-form, a beam pivoted at its inner end to the platform and adapted for vertical swinging movement at its outer end, the outer end of said beam being upwardly curved, a boom on the platform extending above the beam, supporting pulleys mounted on said boom, a scoop movable endwise of the beam and open at its end adjacent to the inner end of the beam, a pulley connected with said scoop, a cable attached to the outer end of the beam and passing over said pulleys, a winding drum on the platform for said cable. said beam being curved to correspond with a circular curve which is, when the beam is in its depressed position, substantially concentric with said supporting pulleys on the boom.

10. in an excavating machine, a vertically and laterally swinging beam, upwardly curved at its outer end, a scoop adapted to travel endwise on said beam, means for supporting and lifting the beam and for moving the scoop outwardly on the beam, embracing pulleys supported above the beam,

a pulley connected with the scoop, a cable attached to the outer end of the beam and trained around said pulleys, said beam being curved between its ends upon a circular curve which is substantially concentric with said supporting pulley when the beam is in its depressed position.

11. In an excavating machine, the combination of a rotative platform, a vertically swinging beam pivotally connected therewith and upwardly curved at its outer end, said beam being provided with upwardly and downwardly facing tracks, a boom on the platform extending above the beam, a scoop movable endwise on said beam, said scoop being open at its end adjacent to the inner end of the beam and provided with rollers engaging said tracks and acting to hold the scoop parallel with the beam, and means supporting the beam from said boom adapted to lift said beam and to carry the scoop into engagement with the upwardly curved outer end thereof when the beam 4 reaches its elevated position.

12. In an excavating machine, the combination of a beam provided with upwardly and downwardly facing tracks and which is upwardly curved at its outer end, a scoop carriage adapted to travel upon the said beam, said carriage being provided with two sets of rollers, the set of rollers which travels over the upwardly facing track being spaced at a less distance apart than the rollers which travel over the downwardly facing track.

13. In a drainage excavator, a runway arranged to swing up and down, an excavating bucket and means for causing the same to travel back and forth on the said runway, said bucket being wider than the runway to permit the latter to descend into the groove cut in the ground by the bucket, to form the excavation, and means on the outer end of the runway for causing the bucket to automatically discharge its load before returning to starting point.

14:. In a drainage excavator, a runway arranged to swing up and down, an excavating bucket and means for causing the same to travel back and forth on the said runway, said bucketbeing wider than the runway to permit the latter to descend into the groove cut in the ground by the bucket, means for swinging the runway laterally whereby the load may be dumped at either side of the ditch or trench, and means on the outer end of the runway for causing the bucket to antomatically discharge its load before returning to starting point.

15. In a drainage excavator, a body, a

turn table therefor, a runway pivoted on the body to swing up and down, and bucket, means for causing it to travel back and forth on the runway, the latter holding the bucket in position to fill and an engine and boiler mounted on the turn table, tending to counterbalance the bucket and runway.

16. In a drainage excavator, a body, a turn table therefor, a runway pivoted on the body to swing up and down, formed with an upturned outer end, a bucket on the runway, means for drawing the bucket toward the machine to fill, and means for drawing the bucket backward to the upturned outer end of the runway to dump.

17. In a drainage excavator, a body, a runway pivoted on the body to swing up and down at one side thereof, a bucket on the runway, means for causing the bucket to dump at the outer end of the runway, means for lowering the runway to hold the bucket to its work, means for swinging the excavator around to bring the bucket into position to dump at the other side thereof, and an engine and boiler tending to counterbalance the bucket and runway, adapted to swing around.

18. In a drainage excavator, a body, a runway pivoted to one side thereof, a bucket on said runway, a pivoted boom above the runway, means applied to said boom and connected for raising and lowering the runway, means for causing the bucket to dump at the outer end of the runway, means for causing the bucket to fill by movementtoward the excavator, and means for turning the excavator around to dump at the outer side thereof.

19. In a drainage excavator, a body, a runway arranged to swing up and down at one side of the body, a bucket wider than the runway, to cut a groove in which the latter can descend, and means for causing the bucket to travel back and forth on the runway, the latter holding the bucket to its work.

20. In a drainage excavator, a body, a swinging runway at one side thereof, provided with an upturned outer end, a bucket on the runway, wider than the latter to cut a groove in which the same can descend, and means for drawing the bucket to the outer end of the runway to dump.

21. In a drainage excavator, a body, a swinging runway at one side thereof, provided with an upturned outer end, a bucket on the runway, wider than the latter to cut a groove in which the same can descend, means for drawing the bucket to the outer end of the runway to dump, and means for turning the excavator around to dump at the other side thereof.

In a drainage excavator, a revolving body, a runway pivoted to one side of the body, means on the body for raising and lowering the outer end of the runway, a bucket traveling back and forth on the runway, the latter holding the bucket to its work, ieans for filling the bucket by movement thereof toward the excavator, and means on the outer end of the runway for upsetting the bucket to dump.

In testimony, that we claim the foregoing as our invention we affix our signatures in the presence of two witnesses, this 21st day of September A. D. 1908.

WVILLIAM F. JACOBS. CHARLES C. JACOBS. Witnesses IVHEATON P. BARNES, FRANK C. VAUGHAN. 

